NHL trade rumors: Nino Neiderreiter has ample suitors

The Minnesota Wild are getting calls about the availability of Nino Niederreiter. 

After going all-in for a Stanley Cup and getting eliminated in the first round, the Minnesota Wild are likely going to see some changes. Due to their salary cap, they might not be able to afford to keep all of their players. In his recent 30 thoughts column, Elliotte Friedman suggests Nino Niederreiter might be on his way out of Minnesota.

"The 24-year-old winger had a career-high 25 goals in 2016–17, and, after making a few calls, it sounds like teams are looking at the Wild’s expansion/cap situation, wondering if he could be available."

If the salary cap ceiling rises to $75 million as projected, the Wild will have about $13 million of cap space. Minnesota has to re-sign several restricted free agents, including Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula. They also have to worry about the expansion draft, where they might have to expose a good forward.

One has to imagine if Niederreiter is on the market, he’d fetch Minnesota quite the return. He’s coming off a career season, during which he set career highs in goals (25), assists (32) and points (57). Niederreiter also had a plus-minus rating of +17. He was, however, rather quiet in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, putting up just an assist in five games.

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Still, Niederreiter is an extremely talented young forward. Depending on what Minnesota wants as a return, he might fetch them at least a first round pick. It will likely cost whoever trades him a lot to sign him. The signing could either happen after the trade or be a part of a sign and trade deal, though those are quite rare in the NHL. Minnesota should have enough to sign both Granlund and Niederreiter, though the latter might have to be traded if that’s not the case.